Environment
Environmental review
Award-winning energy efficiency
The worldwide increase in greenhouse gases is largely due to increasing energy consumption. We all have contributed to the climate change, but can also do something to curb it.
In 2008, Helsingin Energia took active steps towards a future with less carbon. Carbon dioxide emissions decreased, as they did in the preceding year, and, despite the increase in energy consumption, fell below the level of the international reference year 1990.
The more energy consumption increases, the more difficult it becomes to achieve the objectives set for the use of renewable energy sources. Energy saving is in the customers' and Helsingin Energia's common interest. In the operating year 2008, the significance of all links in the energy chain was highlighted in the national Green Fingerprint campaign, within which energy pledges were gathered and the new energy information online service energianeuvoja.fi was launched. Our partners in the service are Motiva and WWF Finland.
Though the climate is getting milder, thermal energy is required for real estates and for supply of hot service water in such quantities that fossil fuels continue to be needed, too. In cities, centralised energy production systems are ecologically the most efficient. Distributed and multi-source energy solutions can be utilised in non-built-up areas. In terms of energy efficiency, mixed heating systems are poor solutions.
At Helsingin Energia, the energy saving goals set by the EU are implemented by means of new energy efficiency agreements concerning both the energy sector and the city as a whole.
Helsingin Energia won the Regional Champion Award in the European Parliament Regional Awards competition in 2008. An important recognition was also received from the IEA (International Energy Agency), which published country-specific reports on cogeneration of electricity and district heat, district heating and district cooling. The IEA gave Finland the highest possible score and in its report brought Helsingin Energia out as a good example.
The Hanasaari A power plant, which had operated for four decades and had already been shut down, was demolished as planned. Thanks to the efficient machine demolition techniques and committed project personnel, over 90% of the demolition material was recovered for recycling.
The work carried out at the old power plant and the solutions that were advanced in their time were not consigned to oblivion. The heritage preservation project was awarded the 2008 Industrial Heritage Award.
Combined heat and power (CHP) production
Electricity
District heat
Share of low-emission CHP production at the power plants located in Helsinki 2008.
